Beyond the surface: A prospective case-control study of electromyography in cervical dystonia

IF 3.6 3区医学 Q1 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Clinical Neurophysiology Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-24 DOI:10.1016/j.clinph.2026.2111708

S.A.J.E.A. Lagerweij , M. Smit , L.M. Centen , J.M.C. van Dijk , D.L.M. Oterdoom , M.E. van Egmond , J.W. Elting , M.A.J. Tijssen

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

To identify potential EMG monitoring biomarkers for CD by comparing cervical muscle activity in patients and controls.

Methods

Fifteen CD patients and fifteen controls underwent bilateral EMG recordings from the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and splenius capitis (SPL) muscles during rest and motor tasks. Power spectral density (PSD) in the 4–12 Hz range, co-contraction, overflow and intermuscular coherence were analyzed. Group differences were assessed with Mann-Whitney U tests and associations between EMG features and clinical severity scores were evaluated using Spearman correlations.

Results

CD patients showed significantly increased 4–12 Hz PSD across all neck muscles and tasks. Co-contraction and overflow were consistently observed and quantifiable. Intermuscular coherence was notably elevated in SCM pairs during active tasks. Preliminary correlations were found between PSD measures and clinical scores.

Conclusions

The study confirms four distinct EMG characteristics in CD: elevated 4–12 Hz PSD, co-contraction, overflow and intermuscular coherence, supporting their potential as objective monitoring biomarkers.

Significance

These findings provide electrophysiological validation of key EMG features in CD and highlight their potential for integration into research and clinical assessment, pending further methodological standardization.

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表面之外：一项前瞻性病例-对照研究颈肌张力障碍的肌电图。

目的：通过比较患者和对照组的宫颈肌肉活动，确定潜在的肌电图监测生物标志物。方法：15例CD患者和15例对照者在休息和运动时分别对胸锁乳突肌（SCM）和头脾肌（SPL）进行双侧肌电图记录。分析了4 ~ 12 Hz范围内的功率谱密度（PSD）、共收缩、溢出和肌间相干性。采用Mann-Whitney U检验评估组间差异，采用Spearman相关性评估肌电特征与临床严重程度评分之间的相关性。结果：CD患者在所有颈部肌肉和任务中显示4-12 Hz PSD显著增加。共同收缩和溢出持续观察并可量化。在主动任务中，SCM对的肌间一致性显著提高。初步发现PSD测量值与临床评分之间存在相关性。结论：该研究证实了CD的四个不同的肌电特征：4-12 Hz PSD升高、共收缩、溢出和肌间连贯，支持它们作为客观监测生物标志物的潜力。意义：这些发现为CD的关键肌电图特征提供了电生理学验证，并强调了它们整合到研究和临床评估中的潜力，有待进一步的方法标准化。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical Neurophysiology 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

8.70

自引率

6.40%

发文量

932

审稿时长

59 days

期刊介绍： As of January 1999, The journal Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, and its two sections Electromyography and Motor Control and Evoked Potentials have amalgamated to become this journal - Clinical Neurophysiology. Clinical Neurophysiology is the official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology, the Brazilian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, the Czech Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, the Italian Clinical Neurophysiology Society and the International Society of Intraoperative Neurophysiology.The journal is dedicated to fostering research and disseminating information on all aspects of both normal and abnormal functioning of the nervous system. The key aim of the publication is to disseminate scholarly reports on the pathophysiology underlying diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system of human patients. Clinical trials that use neurophysiological measures to document change are encouraged, as are manuscripts reporting data on integrated neuroimaging of central nervous function including, but not limited to, functional MRI, MEG, EEG, PET and other neuroimaging modalities.